[Paddlewise] sailing canoe troubles etc

Many thanks to Craig and Joq for their generous accounts of their medical
challenges.

 

In the long past years, I used to run to stay in shape for paddling.
Paddling was never much of a respiratory challenge back then. I used to run
10 k races. My best time was 7 minutes a mile (twice only). Thought I would
never do more than 8 minutes a mile. Can't run anymore-my knees can't take
it. I am reduced to walking and am happy with 8 minutes per half mile.

 

Now it's paddling to stay in shape. Best time is 60 minutes for 5 miles with
my old Mariner Sprite. When I got that boat (my wife got it for me), Matt
told her that I was too big for the boat (6'3", 210lbs). Ever since then I
have been trying to figure out what's wrong with the boat so that I can get
something newer that will help me go FASTER, so that I can be farther ahead
with my 9 ft paddle, but can't find the problem so still keeping the boat.
Used it last week in small craft warning winds on the St Lawrence River-
straight up wind of course for a couple of miles. You would have thought the
wind would take my 9 ft paddle and blow me back down to the International
Bridge. 

 

One summer day out racing our sailing canoes (standard 16 ft canoes rigged
with sails) I had on a new pfd with plastic snap buckles. While leaning hard
on the rail with my chest while racing up wind, I heard something crack with
a loud pop. I was busy staying upright at the time-we don't use outriggers.
I thought to myself something about the obviously cheap-hst pfd I had
purchased-busted buckle first time I used it. I have continued to use that
pfd for many years since then. Nothing at all wrong with it. After some
weeks, my cracked rib quit hurting as well. I don't lean my chest into the
rail to keep the boat up any more, however.

 

Here is a question for Joq. We once participated in a demonstration
helicopter rescue of a paddler in distress in the water. We had half a dozen
of us in a group with one swimmer to be picked up in a basket lowered from
the standard red and white rescue Huey. One of our fellows took the
"victim's"  boat. The victim fired off a little red smoke canister-looked
like a tiny little pink fart that instantly was gone in the breeze. The
rescue chopper whooshed in and lowered the basket and the victim climbed in.
The rest of us stood off about 50 yards. We could see the down draft race
toward us as a wall of spray. We each had to get our heads down on the decks
of our boats. The spray felt like sand pellets. My 9 ft paddle kept me
firmly upright. I was not blown off across the bay. Clearly I am just not
understanding how this paddle is supposed to be used to cause endless
disaster. I should have had one of this little short busted paddles created
in storms.

 

My question for Joq:  What is the likely wind speed created by the downdraft
of the rescue helicopters? That breeze was a hell of a lot stronger than the
35 mph + breeze I paddled in on Long Island Sound one September afternoon in
the tail end of an east coast hurricane. That day there were some cops in a
squad car watching me from the beach at Orchard Park. I could not hear
anything they had to say and there was no way they could reach me, so I just
ignored them. My white water paddle (6.5 ft Iliad) had to be in the water
pulling at all times (Cascade river kayak). I made about 1 ft on each
stroke. I lost about 3 ft if I paused for any brief moment. It was a strong
breeze. The Coast Guard was out pulling some big sail boats off the rocks.

 

I certainly hope that Craig will keep us informed on his progress with his
new knee!

 

Chuck Sutherland
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